World Footwear

Companies

Skechers wins favorable ruling in Nike lawsuit

Nov 20, 2015 United States
Skechers wins favorable ruling in Nike lawsuit
The Chief Administrative Law Judge of the International Trade Commission ruled that Skechers’ famous twinkle toes and bobs product lines do not infringe Converse’s Chuck Taylor design
A global footwear leader and the second largest athletic footwear brand in the United States, Skechers announced that it has won an important ruling over Nike, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Converse Inc. relating to the Converse Chuck Taylor shoe.

In October 2014, Converse sued Skechers in federal district court and before the International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that the company’s famous Twinkle Toes and BOBS product lines infringed its Chuck Taylor midsole common law and registered trademarks. The case went to trial before the ITC in August 2015.

Now, the Chief Administrative Law Judge of the ITC, the Honorable Charles E. Bullock, ruled that Skechers’ Twinkle Toes and BOBS product lines do not infringe Converse’s registered trademark for the Chuck Taylor midsole. In making his ruling, the Judge noted that both of the Skechers product lines feature prominent branding and that the Twinkle Toes line contains design features that “create enough differences that the shoes bearing them cannot be said to be similar to [the Chuck Taylor].”

The Judge also stated that the survey evidence concluded that there was no likelihood that consumers would confuse the Skechers designs with those of Converse’s Chuck Taylor designs.

"While we expected this result, we are still very pleased with the Judge’s ruling on Twinkle Toes and BOBS”, stated Michael Greenberg, President, adding: “Skechers is an ardent brander that spends more than 100 million US dollars a year in advertising for the very purpose of distinguishing its brands and products from those of its competitors.”

Related Events

  • Apr
    6
    Apr 6-Apr 7, 2025 | Michigan, United States

    Metro-Michigan Women's Wear Market

  • Apr
    8
    Apr 8-Apr 10, 2025 | Palm Beach, Florida, United States

    Palm Beach Trendz

  • Apr
    8
    Apr 8-Apr 10, 2025 | Palmetto, Florida, United States

    Trendz West

  • Apr
    16
    Apr 16-Apr 17, 2025 | Nashville, United States

    Magic Nashville

Related Organizations

  • NSRA - National Shoe Retailers Association

    NSRA - National Shoe Retailers Association

    United States
  • SSIA - Shoe Service Institute of America

    SSIA - Shoe Service Institute of America

    United States
  • Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc.

    Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc.

    United States
  • AAFA - American Apparel & Footwear Association

    AAFA - American Apparel & Footwear Association

    United States